Mute Swan
Information
Mute Swan Brochure
Frequently Asked Questions About Mute Swans
2021 Information
There appear to be two breeding pairs of Mute Swans on Runyan Lake this year.
The swans continue to be friendly towards humans as long as their young are not
threatened and are continuing to help keep some of the geese away.
2018 - 2020 Information
The breeding pair
of Mute Swans remain on Runyan Lake and attempt to raise 3 - 4 cygnets
each year with varying success.
The swans continue to be friendly towards humans as long as their young are not
threatened and are continuing to help keep some of the geese away.
2017 Information
As of 5/11 the breeding pair
is on Runyan Lake and raising 3 - 4
cygnets.
The swans continue to be friendly towards humans as long as their young are not
threatened and are continuing to help keep some of the geese away.
2016 Information
The breeding pair raised two
cygnets
during 2016. The swans continue to be friendly towards humans as long as
their young are not threatened and are continuing to help keep some of the geese
away.
2015 Information
As of 9/1/15 the breading
pair and their two young remain on Runyan Lake.
The
breading pair has two cygnets as of 7/27/15. They are friendly if
approached carefully. Please respect their instinct to protect their
young.
During early spring one Swan
was seen on the lake shortly after the ice melted. As of May no Swans have
been sighted and we one again have a goose problem. There appear to be
several families of geese on the lake this year with the absence of the Swans.
We are hoping for a Swam return in the near future to help with goose abatement!
2014 Information
This spring four (4) Swans were
seen on the lake. Two adults with one cygnet remain on the lake. The
other pair may still be here but has not been seen recently. Having experienced no issues with the Swans during 2012
and 2013,
during the Spring General Meeting held May 23, 2014, the Membership voted to
allow the Swans to peacefully coexist with us on Runyan Lake during 2014.
Please report any incidents of aggression to RLI. Please note - it is
against state law to harass, chase, or otherwise frighten or threaten the Swans.
2013 Information
This spring six (6) Swans were
seen on the lake. Two adults with one cygnet remain on the lake. Having experienced no issues with the Swans during 2012,
during the Spring General Meeting held May 24, 2013, the Membership voted to
allow the Swans to peacefully coexist with us on Runyan Lake during 2013.
Please report any incidents of aggression to RLI. Please note - it is
against state law to harass, chase, or otherwise frighten or threaten the Swans.
2012 Information
A few Members have identified
the breeding pair of Swans on Runyan Lake as Mute Swans. This is
confirmed. There were 2 adults and 7 Cygnets as of 5/28, 2 adults and 5
Cygnets
as of (6/10), 2 adults and 4 Cygnets (6/25), and currently there remains 2 adults
and 1 Cygnet (7/15). A baby swan is called a Cygnet (pronounced sig-net). Last year the adults raised two of their young to maturity. Prior to 2011 Runyan Lake has not had a nesting pair of Swans for at least 10 years.
The MDNR alleges Mute Swans are an invasive
species of Swan which is displacing the native Trumpeter Swan. Mute Swans
are often characterized by aggressive behavior, although the current Swans seem
to be quite docile and tolerant of people.
This behavior may change at any time, so please
be cautious when approaching the Swans, and be especially careful by preventing
pets and children from approaching or harassing the Swans. Parents are
often very protective of their young.
As of 10/3/12 the 2 adults and nearly fully grown
Cygnet remained on the lake. We have received no reports of aggressive
behavior during the year.
There are also vastly differing points of view
regarding Mute Swans, some of which can be read
here
and
here.
While the MDNR is advocating
Mute Swan reduction, they place the entire burden of removal effort on our lake
association by requiring a petition with at least 70% of the riparian Members
approving Mute Swan removal in order to grant the permit. We are then
responsible for hiring a contractor for removal, however some grant money is available to
offset the cost. Numerous phone calls to the various MDNR offices across
the state resulted
in little assistance and no returned call from the waterfowl specialist. As a result of
the current Mute Swan behavior, along with the effort required to obtain a
permit for removal, during the 5/25/12 Spring General Membership Meeting the
Membership agreed to monitor the situation this year rather than take any
action.
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The MDNR offers the following information about Mute Swans from the MDNR webpage
Mute Swans - Invading Michigan's Waters:
History:
Mute swans are not native to Michigan, or to North America. They were brought to
this country from Europe. Mute swans were introduced to this continent in the
mid-1800s to adorn city parks and large estates. It is widely thought that all
North American mute swan populations originated from the release or escape of
individuals from these early captive flocks.
The first pair of feral mute swans was introduced to Michigan in 1919 in
Charlevoix County. The population has continued to grow since that time. By the
mid-1940s, the flock had increased to about 47 individuals. These swans spread
through northern lower Michigan. In 1972, the flock near Traverse City numbered
between 450-500 birds and was increasing at 15-22 percent annually. The
population in northern lower Michigan was over 1,000 birds by 1982, with over
2,000 birds statewide by 1990. During this time, a southern flock of mute swans
was also established in southwest Michigan.
Concerns over the expanding population of non-native mute swans were first
expressed by the DNR in the 1960s, and that concern continues today. Mute swan
management activities have been taking place for decades at varying levels.
Mute swan populations have the potential to increase rapidly if unchecked. Mute
swans are relatively long-lived, contributing to their population growth. One
study estimated mean annual death rate of young mute swans in Michigan ranged
from 12-16 percent a year. From ages 4-8 years, annual mortality decreased to
2-7 percent per year. At age five, annual mortality averaged only two percent.
Although essentially non-migratory, survival rates remain high through winter
because the swans move to warm water discharges and rivers. By 2000, the
statewide breeding population was estimated to be about 5,700. In just ten
years, that number rose to over 15,500. The DNR estimates approximately an
increase of about 9-10 percent each year. Interestingly, Michigan now has the
highest population of mute swans in North America.
With growing concern over burgeoning mute swan numbers, the DNR set a long-term
goal to reduce the statewide mute swan population to less than 2,000 by the year
2030.
The mute swan population in Michigan is tracked twice yearly by the DNR. First,
during a mid-winter waterfowl count conducted in early-January, then by the
Michigan Spring Breeding Waterfowl Survey conducted each April-May. Mute swan
population estimates are derived each year using data from the Spring Breeding
Waterfowl Survey. This is an established aerial survey that the DNR has
participated in since 1991. Flights are conducted at low elevation, slow speeds
and follow the same transect routes each year. The survey methodology used is
scientifically sound and proven and used by other states and Canadian provinces.
Why Are Mute Swans a Problem?
There are three primary issues with mute swans: threat to humans, danger to
native wildlife and destruction of wetland habitat.
THREAT TO HUMANS
Mute swans are large, conspicuous birds and have little fear of humans. They are
easily observed by the public and offer a chance for people to come in close
contact with wildlife. Each year, the DNR gets reports of mute swan attacks on
people in watercraft and on shore. These situations all pose potentially
dangerous results, and as the mute swan population grows, so do the conflicts.
Nesting swans can be very aggressive to humans who come too close to their
territory. Mute swans will attack humans, especially small children, who get too
close to their nest or young. Canoeists, kayakers and those operating personal
watercraft have also been attacked when too close to mute swan territories. Mute
swans are aggressive and may pose a danger to humans and can, in certain
situations, effect human use of property when humans are excluded from nesting
areas by swans defending their territories.
DANGER TO NATIVE WILDLIFE
Mute swans are one of the world's most aggressive waterfowl species, especially
during nesting and brood-rearing. Mute swans exhibit aggression toward other
waterfowl and can displace native waterfowl from their nesting and feeding areas
by attacking, injuring and even killing other birds.
In Michigan, of particular concern are native breeding waterfowl and water birds
such as trumpeter swans (state threatened), Canada geese, ducks, common loons
(state threatened), and black terns (state special concern).
The trumpeter swan is native to Michigan, and is on our state's threatened
species list. It has been on the road to recovery; however, the increasing
presence of the invasive mute swan is threatening the breeding success of this
native bird. To ensure the protection of the trumpeter swan, the mute swan
population must be drastically reduced.
Mute swan displacement and aggression toward native wildlife occurs frequently
throughout North America. For example, the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation reported that three pairs of captive mute swans
killed at least 50 ducks and geese in a zoo. The Maryland Department of Natural
Resources has reported records of mute swans killing mallard ducklings, Canada
goose goslings and cygnets of other mute swans. Not just waterfowl species are
at risk. For example, a large molting flock of Maryland mute swans caused a
colony of least terns and black skimmers to abandon their nesting colony by
trampling nests containing eggs and chicks. These swans also displaced nesting
Forster's and common terns.
DESTRUCTION OF WETLAND HABITAT
Mute swans feed primarily on water plants (e.g., pondweed, coontail, waterweed,
wild rice and wild celery). By feeding heavily on this food source, mute swans
reduce the availability of these plants to native wildlife, and may ultimately
reduce the carrying capacity of wetlands for native wildlife species. Adult mute
swans consume big quantities of these plants (about 4-8 pounds per swan per day)
and often uproot more plants than they actually consume. As mute swans occupy
habitat year-round in many locations, there is potential for depletion of this
aquatic vegetation by continuous feeding.
The wetland plants that mute swans are removing play an important role in
aquatic ecosystems by providing both food and cover to a variety of vertebrate
and invertebrate species. Many wildlife and fish species feed on animals that
live in these plants. Wildlife biologists have concern over the declining
numbers of native duck species such as canvasbacks and scaup. These diving ducks
feed on particular aquatic plants and are negatively impacted when mute swans
reduce or eliminate this food source.
How To Tell a Mute Swan from a Native Swan:
The most notable difference between mute swans and the two native swan species
found in Michigan (trumpeter swan and tundra swan) is that adult mute swans have
orange bills. The two native swans have black bills. Mute swans also have a
black knob on the top of their bill, which is absent in the native swan species.
Mute swans typically have an "S"-shaped curve to their neck, while trumpeter
swans have a "C"-shaped curve. Mute swans are also generally quieter than
trumpeter swans, which have a loud trumpet-like call.
What is the DNR Doing?
The DNR's Mute Swan Management and Control Program Policy and Procedures
outlines both short- and long-term population goals for mute swans in Michigan.
The short-term goal is to reduce the statewide mute swan population growth to
zero by 2016. A longer-term goal is to reduce Michigan's mute swan population to
less than 2,000 by 2030.
There are many conservation groups that support the DNR's drastic reduction of
mute swan numbers because of the negative impacts mute swan have on native birds
and wetland habitat. National Audubon Society, Michigan Audubon Society, the
American Bird Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited are just a few organizations that
have endorsed the reduction of mute swan populations.
Though hunting mute swans is not allowed, the DNR issues permits to remove mute
swans and/or their nests and eggs.
Mute swans are not federally protected. Federal protection was removed by the
Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act in 2004 because mute swans are not native to
the United States. Therefore, the regulation of mute swans is the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state, and mute swans are protected under Michigan law. The
DNR allows the removal of mute swans and their nests and eggs under permit for
any of the following situations:
